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Simmons Field: Mizzou Baseball in the Majors & Minors

Four former Tigers are in The Show; More are knocking on the door.

By trripleplay
Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer
Photo by Trripleplay

Major Leagues

Aaron Crow RHP (06-08) Kansas City Royals.

This will be Crow's 5th season in the Royals' bullpen.


Kyle Gibson RHP (07-09) Minnesota Twins.

Gibson spent part of 2013 as a starter for the Twins and was one of the final pitchers to make the Twins roster for 2014. He needs to prove he belongs at this level this season.


Ian Kinsler 2B (03) Detroit Tigers.

Kinsler was traded to the Tigers from the Rangers in the off-season and now joins Max Scherzer with Detroit. His single season at Mizzou was the year before Scherzer arrived.


Max Scherzer RHP (04-06) Detroit Tigers.

Scherzer won the 2013 American League Cy Young Award. He will be a free agent after this season.

Class AAA


Doug Mathis RHP (05)

Round Rock Express (Pacific Coast League) Texas Rangers organization. In his 10th season in professional baseball, Mathis has been with several organizations, has been up to the major leagues and back down to the minors with several organizations (including a stint in Korea). For 2014 he is back with the organization where his career started. This will likely be a make-or-break season for his career. He either proves himself and moves back up to the Rangers, or they'll release him mid-summer, and from that point his future in professional baseball would be doubtful.

Brett Nicholas C/1B (10)

Round Rock Express (Pacific Coast League) Texas Rangers organization. Nicholas, who has been splitting time between catching and first base during his minor league career, was a non-roster invitee to the Rangers spring training camp. He has been steadily rising through the Rangers' farm system, powered by a productive bat and flexibility at defense. He's probably a long shot to make the major league club in 2014, short of a breakout season in Round Rock. But he's definitely a true big league prospect.


Nick Tepesch RHP (08-10)

Texas Rangers organization. After spending much of the 2013 season with the major league Rangers, Tepesch was one of the last cuts to the pitching staff. With good results in Triple-A he would likely be one of the first call-ups whenever the Rangers need pitching.


Class AA


Brock Bond IF (06-07)

Bowie Bay Sox (Eastern League) Baltimore Orioles organization. After seven years in the San Francisco Giants organization, Bond was released and then signed by the Orioles. This will likely be a make-or-break year for Bond. He either proves himself and moves steadily upward int he O's organization, or they'll release him mid-summer, and from that point his future in professional baseball would be doubtful.

Tyler Clark RHP (08-10)

Erie Sea Wolves (Eastern League) Detroit Tigers organization. Clark's actual location and status is unclear at this time. He's listed as being with Erie, but is not listed on the roster at that website.

Ryan Lollis OF (06-09)

Richmond Flying Squirrels (Eastern League) San Francisco Giants organization. Lollis is in his 6th season with the Giants organization.

Phil McCormick LHP (08-11)

Richmond Flying Squirrels (Eastern League) San Francisco Giants organization

Matt Stites RHP (11)

Mobile Bay Bears (Southern League) Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Stites was traded from the Padres to the Diamondbacks in late July last season. He impressed his new club and was a non-roster invitee to their Major league camp for Spring Training. He is has been used as a closer during most of his minor league career and is viewed as a legitimate big league prospect.

Class A - Advanced


Eric Garcia IF (10-12)

Lynchburg Hillcats (Carolina League) Atlanta Braves organization. Garcia is moving step by step up the Braves minor league leader.

Ben Turner C (09-12)

San Jose Giants (California League) San Francisco Giants organization. Turner was invited to the Giants major league camp in Spring Training. It was part of the "we need lots of catchers" move that many MLB teams do each spring, but still it was a great opportunity to show what he can do.

Rob Zastryzny LHP (11-13)

Daytona Cubs (Florida League) Chicago Cubs organization. Robby Z has obviously impressed the Cubs enough to move him to advanced-A in just his second season.

Class A


Blake Brown OF (10-12)

Rome Braves (South Atlantic League) Atlanta Braves organization. In his 3rd year in the minor leagues, Brown begins this season still in low-A. He needs to show the Braves he can be productive before the June draft floods them with players.

Blake Holovach LHP (12)

Clinton Lumber Kings (Midwest League) Seattle Mariners organization. Holovach spent his off-season pitching for the Adelaide Bite in the Australian Baseball League.


Jake Walsh LHP (12-13)

Hagerstown Suns (South Atlantic League) Washington Nationals organization

Class A - Short Season

Evan Frey OF (05-07)

Tri-City Dust Devils (Northwest League) Colorado Rockies organization. After seven years with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, the last three spending time each season in Triple-A, Frey was released and then signed by the Rockies. He was sent to their AAA team in Colorado Springs briefly, but has since been assigned to their lowest level club, which won't begin their season until mid-June. In essence, he's been put in limbo while they figure out where they can best use him. This will likely be a make-or-break year for Bond. He either proves himself and moves steadily upward in the Rockies organization, or they'll release him mid-summer, and from that point his future in professional baseball would be doubtful.

Dane Opel OF (10-13)

Great Falls Voyagers (Pioneer League) Chicago White Sox organization. Opel's status is somewhat unclear. milb.com shows him still with Great Falls, which won't begin its season until mid-June. Opel is likely in extended spring training at this time.

Released

James Hudelson (11)

Released after two years in the White Sox organization.

Minor League Coaching

Landon Brandes (2000)

Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Washington Nationals

Jayce Tingler (00-03)

Minor League Field Coordinator, Texas Rangers

Torre Tyson (95-98)

Hitting Coach, Frederick Keys, Baltimore Orioles organization

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